Anatomy of Back Pain

The anatomy of the neck and back is unique within the body. No other part of the body provides the range of motion that the neck and back do. The knee and elbow joints let you swing your legs and arms back and forth, and the shoulder and hip joints let you rotate your limbs in a circular motion. But the structure of your neck and back let you twist and turn and bend and stretch in a variety of different ways.

This versatility of movement is what permits us to do all of the things we do—from building houses to grocery shopping to driving a car—but it comes with a price. The delicate structures that give us this ability to move in so many ways can be easily damaged. And that can lead to neck and back pain.

Residents of Canada

This site is intended for residents of Canada.

The following information is intended for use only by residents of Canada. Countries outside of Canada may have regulatory requirements or medical practices that are different than those in Canada and may require reference to different or additional information. Therefore, this information may not be appropriate outside of Canada.